Earlier today, Suella Braverman MP joined fellow Hampshire MPs for an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Victoria Atkins MP, and senior representatives from NHS England to discuss the serious failures of the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (HIOW ICB).
Evidence given by Hampshire MPs confirmed an overwhelming conclusion that the HIOW ICB is not fit for purpose and is failing to perform its basic functions.
Comments made by MPs suggested that the HIOW ICB has failed to prepare for future demographic changes, failed to take the unmet medical needs of Hampshire residents into account, there is a reluctancy to hire new GPs and too many people cannot get a GP or dentist appointment.
As part of Suella’s determination to improve the provision and quality of local healthcare services in Fareham, she holds quarterly meetings with the HIOW ICB and runs an annual Health Summit.
At Suella’s recent Health Summit (19 April 2024), Fareham residents highlighted three key issues: Firstly, the issue of GP accessibility (Highlands and Westlands GP surgeries in particular). Secondly, many struggle to get a dentist appointment. Lastly, credible, future-proof plans for Welborne need to be produced in the immediate future.
Speaking with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Suella echoed the concerns raised by colleagues and shared Fareham residents’ concerns about GP accessibility, dental appointments and the urgent need to produce credible future-proof plans for Welborne’s GP surgery. Suella asked the Secretary of State for her support on these vital issues and emphasised that failure to do so would create enormous problems down the line.
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care made it clear that she was concerned about the ICB’s performance, saying that it is evident they are not listening to the concerns of Hampshire MPs.
Responding to the issues raised by Suella and other MPs, the Secretary of State asked NHS England to produce an urgent plan of action for the HIOW ICB within a timeframe of two weeks. Once NHS England responds to this request, the Secretary of State will meet with the Chief Executive of HIOW ICB to discuss their findings.
Suella remains deeply concerned about the HIOW ICB’s failures and will be following the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care’s action attentively.
Commenting, Suella said:
“Time after time, the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board has told us they have a plan, yet nothing seems to get done. Enough is enough. We need change, and things need to fundamentally improve. I’m glad to have put forward my concerns in detail with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
“I am concerned that too many Fareham residents can’t see a GP—especially at Highlands, Westlands, Jubilee and Whiteley surgeries—and the situation has not improved in recent years, despite my constant calls for improvement on behalf of residents.
“It had previously been agreed that a new GP surgery would be built at Welborne to meet the healthcare demands of 6,000 new homes. Unbelievably, the ICB reneged on their promise to deliver this, which will be disastrous for the surrounding surgeries and their patients. Today provided an important opportunity to emphasise my concerns over Welborne’s healthcare provisions with the Secretary of State.
“It was clear that the Secretary of State shared my concerns over the ICB’s conduct and performance. I welcome that, as a result of today’s meeting, the Secretary of State has asked NHS England to produce a plan of action in the next two weeks. I’m aware that the Secretary of State will then be meeting with the Chief Executive of the ICB. I look forward to following the developments of this issue closely.”
